Portable animal toilet

ABSTRACT

A portable toilet device or commode for cats and other animals having, or capable of acquiring, tidy habits in disposing of their bodily waste material, i.e. feces and urine. The device comprises two separable elements, the first an outer box-shaped housing, having at least one open lateral side and a centrally disposed opening in its upper face, and the second a container of less dimensions than the housing for reception within the housing. The container is open at its top, and when inserted through the open side of the housing is supported directly beneath the opening in the upper face of the housing to receive matter discharged through the opening. The housing opening is generally circular, having at opposite sides elongated slots through which the animal may insert a paw to cover the discharge matter with absorbent material or litter previously distributed on the bottom of the container.

United States Patent Sept. 5, 1972 Thompson et al.

[54] PORTABLE ANIMAL TOILET [72] Inventors: Sam W. Thompson; Roy B.Rollingsworth, both of Box 329, Jefferson City, Tenn. 37760 [22] Filed:April 6, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 25,822

Thompson ..1 19/15 Primary Examiner--l-lugh R. Chamblee Attorney-FrancisG. Cole [57] ABSTRACT A portable toilet device or commode for cats andother animals having, or capable of acquiring, tidy habits in disposingof their bodily waste material, i.e. feces and urine. The devicecomprises two separable elements, the first an outer box-shaped housing,having at least one open lateral side and a centrally disposed openingin its upper face, and the second a container of less dimensions thanthe housing for reception within the housing. The container is open atits top, and when inserted through the open side of the housing issupported directly beneath the opening in the upper face of the housingto receive matter discharged through the opening. The housing opening isgenerally circular, having at opposite sides elongated slots throughwhich the animal may insert a paw to cover the discharge matter withabsorbent material or litter previously distributed on the bottom of thecontainer.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing figures PORTABLE ANIMAL TOILET SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION The present invention relates to a device useful in the careof household pets, such as cats, to aid in neat disposal of bodily wastematerial. It comprises two separable elements, a housing, and acontainer for discharged material. The housing may be generallyrectangular, open at one side to permit insertion and withdrawal of thecontainer, and is provided with means interengaging with the containerwhereby the latter is supported by and within the housing.

The container is pan-shaped, i.e., open at its upper side, and issupplied prior to insertion in the housing with a layer of loosematerial, such as and, dirt, litter, or granular absorbent material. Anopening in the top wall of the housing overlies the inserted container,and the dimensions of the housing are preferably sufficient to permit acat or other animal to squat on the top wall or platform of the housingand to defecate or urinate through the opening and into the containerbelow.

Cats instinctively cover'their waste material when deposited on dirt orthe like by pawing or scratching the dirt, and can be encouraged toeffect discharge in a selected area indoors where dirt or litter isprovided. However, when the dirt or litter is inadequately confined,pawing serves to scatter it, requiring a more or less extensive cleaningoperation. On the other hand, confinement which is too complete tends tocircumscribe the animals normal activity and discourages the animal fromcompletely satisfying its instinct to cover the waste material.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a device for thereception of animal waste material which is supplied with dirt or litterto enable the animal to cover the waste deposit, and which effectivelyprevents scattering while allowing full freedom of action to satisfy thecovering instinct.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a simpletwo-element structure comprising a housing having an opening in theupper face thereof through which waste material may be discharged, andan open container removably supported by and within the housing forreceiving the material so discharged. The opening in the housing ispreferably sufficiently small to prevent scattering during thesubsequent covering operation, and pawing to effect covering isfacilitated by the provision in the housing of one or more elongatedslots communicating with the opening, through which the animals paw canbe inserted and manipulated to achieve without difficulty theinstinctive covering operation. When a device of this kind is properlyconstructed and dimensioned, it is found, surprisingly, that cats do notrequire training to use it, presumably because of its completeadaptation to the needs and instincts of the animal.

While the device is readily portable, and is normally seated on thefloor or ground wherever convenient, the housing may, if desired, besecured in a selected location. The container, being supported withinand above the lower portion of the housing, may readily be withdrawn foremptying and cleaning without disturbing or displacing the housing.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from thefollowing detailed description when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings illustrative of the invention.

2 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of adevice embodying the invention, with a fragment of the housing topbroken away.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the container, removed from the housing;and

FIG. 4 is a vertical section through the housing, with the containerpartly inserted therein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings indetail, the preferred form of device comprises two elements, a housing10 and a container 11. As shown, housing 10 is preferably rectangular inoutline, having an upper wall or platform 13 and three side walls 14.The fourth side of the housing is open to permit the insertion of thecontainer 11, and the housing is open at the bottom to allow easy accessto the interior of the housing for cleaning and sterilizing. The housingmay be formed of any suitable material, for instance wood, metal orplastic. If of wood, the side walls 14 may be rabbetted just below theplatform 13; if of metal or plastic, a bead or lip 16 extending inwardlyfrom each side wall is formed for the purpose of supporting thecontainer within the housing. A plastic housing is preferred.

The container 11 is pan-shaped, being open at the top and having at itsupper edge a peripheral flange 18 adapted to seat on bead or lip 16, orwithin the rabbet if the housing be formed of wood, to support thecontainer within the housing. Preferably the container is of metal orplastic for easy cleaning and is circular in contour. The depth of thecontainer is such as to clear the floor or other support on which thehousing rests, to facilitate insertion and withdrawal of the container.This also permits securing of the housing to the floor or other support,if desired.

The top wall or platform 13 of the housing is provided with a centrallydisposed opening 20, preferably circular, and of sufficient size topermit discharge therethrough of bodily waste of the animal, but smallenough to prevent or minimize scattering during the subsequent coveringoperation. To permit the animal freedom to paw the loose sand, dirt orlitter 21 initially placed in container 11, one or more elongated slots23, communicating with the opening 20, are formed in the top wall orplatform 13.

In use, the container 1 l is supplied with a layer of absorbent material21 and is inserted in housing 10 where it is supported immediatelybeneath top wall or platform 13. The platform 13 is sufficiently largeto permit the cat or other animal to squat on it while depositing itsbodily waste through opening 20 into container 11. Responding to naturalinstinct, the animal then covers its waste by pawing the absorbentmaterial 21, being aided in this operation by slots 23 through which itspaw can be extended. Because of the small size of .opening 20,scattering is effectively prevented and a deck or platform on which theanimal can readily crouch is provided without increasing the overalldimensions of the housing.

What is claimed is:

l. A portable animal toilet facility consisting of two members only, andcomprising, in combination,

an open topped container initially supplied with a layer of absorbentmaterial on which the bodily waste of a cat or like animal may bedeposited, and

a housing for said container of generally boxlike configuration on whichthe cat may squat,

said housing having a top wall open at all sides for easy access by theanimal and having with a centrally disposed opening communicatingdirectly with the open top of said container through which wastematerial may be discharged directly into said container, and having anopen side through which said container may be inserted laterally intosaid housing,

and coacting guide means on said housing and container being providedwith coacting guide means on which the container is slidable into andout of said housing, said guide means supporting said container withinsaid housing and directly beneath said top wall to receive bodily wastedischarged through said opening, said container being supported solelyby said coacting guide means with its bottom above the base of saidhousing to permit easy lateral insertion and withdrawal of saidcontainer for emptying and cleaning, emptying said centrally disposedopening in said top wall of ,said housing being generally circular, saidtop wall being further provided with at least one elongated slotcommunicating with said central opening and of sufficient width andlength to permit the paw of the animal to extend therethrough and tofacilitate pawing of the absorbent material by the animal 7 subsequentto discharge of its waste material.

l 1 I t i

1. A portable animal toilet facility consisting of two members onLy, andcomprising, in combination, an open topped container initially suppliedwith a layer of absorbent material on which the bodily waste of a cat orlike animal may be deposited, and a housing for said container ofgenerally boxlike configuration on which the cat may squat, said housinghaving a top wall open at all sides for easy access by the animal andhaving with a centrally disposed opening communicating directly with theopen top of said container through which waste material may bedischarged directly into said container, and having an open side throughwhich said container may be inserted laterally into said housing, andcoacting guide means on said housing and container being provided withcoacting guide means on which the container is slidable into and out ofsaid housing, said guide means supporting said container within saidhousing and directly beneath said top wall to receive bodily wastedischarged through said opening, said container being supported solelyby said coacting guide means with its bottom above the base of saidhousing to permit easy lateral insertion and withdrawal of saidcontainer for emptying and cleaning, emptying said centrally disposedopening in said top wall of said housing being generally circular, saidtop wall being further provided with at least one elongated slotcommunicating with said central opening and of sufficient width andlength to permit the paw of the animal to extend therethrough and tofacilitate pawing of the absorbent material by the animal subsequent todischarge of its waste material.